Who are those guys?

If memory serves, and, does it at our age?  Butch, Sundance were fairly long-term robbers.  They'd decided upon robbing a Union Pacific Eastbound train, shortly followed thereafter (because "they'd never guess we'd do it") rob a UP Westbound train. Second robberty, too much dynamite, the gang scrambles to scoop all the strewn cash up... little did they know a posse had been organized on another train, hot on their tracks. 

"Bolivia, let's get outta here, head to Bolivia."  Did.  They even tried going straight, getting a job as payroll guards for a mining company.  Ha.  They were soon robbed, killed the bandits, decided straight life not for them.  Back to US, goal.  They stole a payroll and the burro that was carrying it... a young man recognized them...... shots fired..  both hurt, sought refuge.. thinking "Maybe Austrailia?".. the locals called the Bolitivan Army, which led to the infamous quote "Who are these guys?"

Life on Earth, ya never know.

I thought about, in the recent past, "Who are these guys?" I've been around, befriended, have always run with.

A list:

50's, lost wife a couple years ago. 45'ish, second marriage, happy as can be. My age, never married.  My age, one marriage, long ago.  Me, two marriages, one about 8 yrs, another almost 20. Buddy and spouse, met in HS, married ever since, 50+. Couple a few years younger, 2nd marriage for each, bliss.  A widow, a few years younger, just married, live this state for awhile, that state for awhile.

Longtime marriage, divorce, hooked up with gal from HS.  <--Two of these friends. Another buddy, just lost his wife. Another, same. A buddy, married, going thru severe health issues. Another, 5th, and seemingly loving, final marriage. Another buddy I don't think ever married.  Buddy on his third longterm girlfriend. A marriage on the rocks.

Folks who have lost children, parents, siblings, jobs, houses, their way.  Affluent. Working two jobs to  make ends meet. Business owner.  Just retired, several, 30 yrs, 35 years, 50 years.

Skinny. Athletic. Approaching obese. Old. Young. Afflicted.  Serious medical issues. Conservative. Liberal. Don't know.

Folks who awaken too early, too late, same time every day, work split shifts - early some days, sleep in others,.

Work from home.  Flies to a different airport each week. Commutes 3 miles.   52 miles. Walks to work. Several that are 100% wholly dependent upon others for their well being, varying medical, mental conditions.. Folks that live in Studio Apartments, 3BR apartments, condos, ranch houses, two story, three story, half acre, 5 acres, share a house with their siblings, folks, parents, grandparents, cousins, a good friend..

Those raising their grandkid(s). Adult children still living at home.  Estranged children, grandkids, ex's, siblings, nuclear family. Folks who visit their 90+ year old parent daily.  Folks who never visit their 90- year old parent.

Not real sure where I'm going with this, other than, we live in the same world, but it's different for everyone.

We try, our hardest, to see from other's shoes.

Then again, there's:

High heels, flats, sneakers, boots, sandals, wedges, loafers, ballet flats, sneakers, oxfords, derbies, brogues, loafers, boots, slip-ons, canvas shoes, crocs, work boots, cowboy boots, thongs, you name it, we place our stinky pups in 'em.

How do we do it?  How do we get along? We are different (age, weight, height, marital status, kids, no kids, rich, poor, retired, will never retire - a have too.) We've broken hearts, bones, contracts, vows, laws, other's hearts, our word, ties, plates, keys, windows, mirrors, wind, lots.

We've hired, fired, led, followed, left, stayed, didn't get the job, Indeed we did, had retirement punch/cake, said "Take this job and shove it."

We're the only child, middle.. baby, one of ten, one of five, our family had one stillborn.

Bottom line, we're rich, poor, live on foodstamps, travel, retired at 40-something, go on cruises, cruise only to the ice cream stand, have a maid, usedta live in our van.

Honest, I don't preach. I write to remind ME, hitchhikers welcome.  As we go about, alla the above is out there with us. There is absolutely no way to understand what's going on, has gone on, is about to go on, in another's world.

The potion?

Kindness.  Giving a smile. Asking "How are you"... "Doing ok?"..  "Needta, wanna, talk?"  Giving hugs. Taking that 5, 10 second rest to think - before we speak.

I struggle with much.  I struggle with the fact not all people think as I do. I struggle with taking 2nd place. I stop, hopefully, tell myself "Read alla the difference above, there is more than one way to win." And, there are fer sure differing schools of thought on what a win actually is.

I hope WE do.

Love, Victurd